| Running
Back Rankings - Dynasty |
| Rk |
Player |
Seasons |
Position
Rank '09 |
Yrs in Top 12
(Since 2000) |
Yrs in Top 24
(Since 2000) |
Projected Top 24
Seasons
(Next 3 Yrs) |
| 1 |
Chris Johnson, TEN (24) |
2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
| It’s
hard to do any better than Johnson at the running back
position in fantasy leagues. He’s blessed with
amazing speed, plays within a run first offense in which
he handles nearly all of the carries, and is also a
realistic threat to record 45-55 receptions per season
as well. You’d be hard pressed to pass on him
this year or any other over the next few seasons. |
| 2 |
Adrian Peterson, MIN (25) |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
| Peterson’s
been amongst the top rushers in the NFL since entering
the league in 2007. He plays behind one of the better
offensive lines in the league and is capable of busting
out 1400-1500 yards on the ground each year. He is also
a virtual lock to reach double-digits in the touchdown
department and his reception totals have increased every
year he’s been in the league, topping out at 43
of them in 2009. |
| 3 |
Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC (25) |
4 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
| Jones-Drew
was overlooked in the first round of the 2006 draft
due to his diminutive stature, but has proven himself
as one of the best all-around backs in the league since
entering the NFL. He’ll record nearly 10 or more touchdowns
every season while hauling in anywhere from 40-60 receptions.
And now that Fred Taylor is no longer in the picture
he’s shown he is more than capable of handling a heavy
workload as he carried the ball 312 times last season
for a career high 1391 rushing yards. |
| 4 |
Ray Rice, BAL (23) |
2 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
| Rice followed
up on his mediocre rookie campaign with a breakout season
in 2009. He bypassed Willis McGahee on the depth chart
during the offseason and never looked back. As the clearly
regarded top option out of the backfield within Cam
Cameron’s offense he’ll remain a safe bet to match,
or come close to duplicating, the statistics he amassed
last season (8 total TDs, 1339 yards rushing, 78 receptions,
and 702 yards receiving) over the next few years. |
| 5 |
Frank Gore, SF (27) |
5 |
5 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
| Despite
averaging nearly 5.0 yards per carry last season and
recording a total of 13 touchdowns, some regarded Gore
as a bit of a disappointment last year. Part of this
was due to injury which forced him to miss two outings,
while the other reason had to due with a fair stretch
of games in which the 49ers didn’t feature him
in the offense as much as his owners would have preferred.
Nonetheless he remains one of the top options at running
back. He’s a bit of an injury risk due to the
fact he hasn’t played a full 16-game season since
2006, but he has also never missed more than two games
within any given year. |
| 6 |
Steven Jackson, STL (27) |
6 |
9 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
| Steven
Jackson – love him or hate him? When healthy,
Jackson is amongst the most productive yardage producing
backs in the league. Trouble is, he’s been injury
prone over the years and last year was no exception
despite the fact he only missed one game. Jackson went
through much of the 2009 campaign with a herniated disc
in his back. In April, he had surgery to correct the
issue, but there’s no guarantees he’ll make
it through all of 2010 without his back again becoming
a concern. Nonetheless he remains an intriguing option
amongst fantasy owners despite being an injury risk
due to how well he performs when he’s on the field.
|
| 7 |
Knowshon Moreno, DEN (23) |
1 |
16 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| Moreno
had a productive rookie campaign last season as he rushed
for 947 yards on the ground and totaled 9 touchdowns.
He also contributed another 213 yards receiving on 28
receptions. He’ll look to build upon those numbers
now that he’s more familiar with the offense entering
his second year in the league. The Broncos decision
to part ways with Brandon Marshall via trade with the
Miami Dolphins may also lead to more carries coming
Moreno’s way following the 247 he handled as a
rookie. The opportunities should certainly be there
for him to crack the Top 12 fantasy backs in both 2010
and the years that follow. |
| 8 |
Rashard Mendenhall, PIT (23) |
2 |
13 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
| Mendenhall
took over as the Steelers starting running back four
weeks into the 2009 campaign and made a good impression
as he averaged just over 4.5 yards per carry while scoring
7 touchdowns and compiling 1108 yards on the ground.
He’ll go into the upcoming season as the clear cut starter
and should be a safe bet to handle 20 or more carries
per game more often than not. There’s some talk that
Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman will challenge him for
the goal line carries, but as of now it should be assumed
Mendenhall will get first crack at handling those duties. |
| 9 |
Ryan Mathews, SD (23) |
R |
* |
* |
* |
3 |
| San Diego
Chargers head coach Norv Turner is already on record
as speculating rookie running back Ryan Mathews will
carry the ball roughly 250 times this season while adding
another 40 touches by way of reception. That would be
an impressive workload for the rookie – one that
would give him a realistic chance of totaling more than
1200 yards and 10 plus touchdowns during his first year
in the NFL. Unless he proves to be nothing more than
a bust in the league those are totals Mathews will have
the opportunity to obtain throughout his first few years
within the high powered Chargers offense. |
| 10 |
Shonn Greene, NYJ (24) |
1 |
UR |
0 |
0 |
3 |
| The first
overall pick of the third round a year ago, Shonn Greene
now finds himself as the starter in the Jets backfield.
He played behind veteran Thomas Jones a year ago while
posting totals of 541 yards and 2 touchdowns on the
ground during the regular season. He then showcased
himself in the playoffs by rushing for 304 yards and
2 more touchdowns in three games while averaging 5.6
yards per carry. The Jets did sign LaDainian Tomlinson
in the offseason, but he isn’t expected to push Greene
for the starting role. Playing behind one of the better
offensive lines in the league in and offense that is
heavily run oriented should lead to some impressive
rushing and touchdown totals for Greene in the years
ahead. |
| 11 |
DeAngelo Williams, CAR (27) |
4 |
14 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| Williams
busted loose in 2008 as he scored 18 touchdowns on the
ground while rushing for over 1500 yards. He followed
that with another productive year last season as he
again averaged over 5.0 yards per carry while scoring
7 times and rushing for more than 1100 yards in just
13 games. At 27, he likely has another 3-4 years worth
of that type of production left in him - the only major
concern being how long the Panthers can keep Williams
and Jonathan Stewart together in the same backfield
before likely departing with Williams in favor of the
younger and nearly equally productive Stewart. |
| 12 |
Michael Turner, ATL (28) |
6 |
23 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| Turner
ran for just under 1700 yards while scoring 17 times
during his first year as a starter in the league in
2008 after spending the previous 4 seasons as a back-up
to LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. He then produced
871 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns a year ago while
being limited to 11 games due to an ankle injury. While
Turner will continue to be a 1200-yard threat and double-digit
touchdown producer in the immediate years ahead owners
need to be concerned about a sudden drop in his production
the closer he gets to turning 30. Not only will age
be a factor in Turner’s eventual decline, but
the heavy workload he handles could also play apart
in him breaking down at some point over the next 2-4
year period. |
| 13 |
Ryan Grant, GB (27) |
4 |
8 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
| Ryan Grant
may not garner as much attention as the backs listed
ahead of him, but when taking his age and production
into account it’d be foolish to overlook his value.
At 27 years of age he should have another 3-4 years
worth of his NFL prime remaining. He’s coming
off back-to-back 1200-yard seasons and remains a threat
to match that total in the years ahead. He scored just
5 times in 2008, but bounced back with 11 touchdowns
last year and will have ample amount of scoring opportunities
as the lead back in Green Bay’s high powered offense. |
| 14 |
Pierre Thomas, NO (25) |
3 |
20 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
| Thomas’
statistics weren’t as impressive last year as many expected
them to be following his surprise showing in 2008, but
that doesn’t mean his potential should now be overlooked.
He is clearly the Saints top option going into the 2010
campaign, and with the departure of Mike Bell during
the offseason should see a fairly significant increase
upon the statistics he compiled a year ago (1095 combined
yards, 8 touchdowns, and 39 receptions). Lynell Hamilton
and Reggie Bush may be used to handle some of the duties
that went to Bell last season, but it’s just as likely
Thomas will simply end up handling a heavier workload
instead. |
| 15 |
Jamaal Charles, KC (23) |
2 |
12 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
| A third
round pick in 2008, Jamaal Charles made the most of
his opportunity to start in the NFL once the Chiefs
finally made the decision to part ways with the troublesome
Larry Johnson. The Texas alumni made 10 starts, played
in 15 games, totaled over 1400-yards, averaged 5.9 yards
per carry, and scored 8 touchdowns while hauling in
40 receptions. Thomas Jones was added to the Chiefs
backfield this offseason and will get his fair share
of carries, but Charles will still be regarded as their
primary back. He’ll either sink or swim as he enters
his first year in the league as a starter, but expectations
are he’ll remain pretty productive on a weekly basis. |
| 16 |
Matt Forte, CHI (24) |
2 |
18 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| Matt Forte
proved to be a huge disappointment last season after
compiling 1715 yards and 12 touchdowns as a rookie in
2008. His rushing yardage dropped significantly while
his touchdown production plummeted to a total of 4.
He’ll be playing within new offensive coordinator Mike
Martz’s offensive scheme this year which could be a
blessing in disguise for the third-year back. Marshall
Faulk, Steven Jackson, Frank Gore, and Kevin Jones have
all had varied levels of success during their seasons
in which Martz was either their head coach or offensive
coordinator. Each of those backs produced impressive
numbers as a receiver out of the backfield while playing
for Martz which is one area of the game Forte has excelled
since entering the NFL. In point(s) per reception (PPR)
leagues Forte will definitely hold value as a starter
and could prove a pleasant surprise should he manage
to get himself going on the ground. Chester Taylor will
push him for touches, but Forte is expected to remain
the primary option out of the backfield in Chicago. |
| 17 |
Jonathan
Stewart, CAR (23) |
2 |
11 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| Stewart’s
current situation hampers the amount of production he
could provide if he were the featured back within an
offense, but at just 23-years of age he still has time
to land a starting role at some point down the line
– whether it be with the Panthers or elsewhere.
As things currently stand he still holds value even
as the number two option behind DeAngelo Williams in
Carolina as he has produced a total of 20 touchdowns
and 1968 rushing yards over the last two years. Part
of the reason he is ranked here instead of further down
on the list is based on the belief he’ll be the
featured back somewhere in the NFL within the next few
years. |
| 18 |
Jahvid Best, DET (21) |
R |
* |
* |
* |
2 |
| Best was
taken with the 30th overall pick in this year’s draft
and will likely enter the year as the starter in Detroit
as Kevin Smith continues his recovery from a torn ACL
suffered late in the Lions 2009 campaign. The rookie
may struggle as the Lions continue to rebuild under
head coach Jim Schwartz following their disastrous 0-16
run in 2008, but his value could be on a steady incline
as Detroit continues to better themselves in the years
ahead. Their offense has some intriguing pieces in place,
most notably Calvin Johnson at wide receiver, which
offers some promise for Best and the Lions as a whole
going forward. |
| 19 |
Felix Jones, DAL (23) |
2 |
40 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Jones
was drafted with the 22nd overall pick in 2008 and was
expected to be a nice complimentary piece to Marion
Barber’s rushing style in the backfield. His play
over the last two years however has been so impressive
that many believe he has a chance to be the outright
starter in 2010. Even if he remains the back-up he stands
to see a significant increase in touches during the
upcoming season as his value is likely to keep rising
during the years ahead. |
| 20 |
LeSean McCoy, PHI (22) |
1 |
37 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| With the
departure of Brian Westbrook this offseason, many are
looking at LeSean McCoy as his outright replacement.
While McCoy is in line to take over Westbrook’s place
atop the depth chart, it’s doubtful he’ll produce right
away in the same manner Westbrook had during his prime.
The Eagles signed Mike Bell during the offseason and
will likely use him in some type of RBBC with McCoy.
Fullback Leonard Weaver is also capable of handling
carries and catching the ball out of the backfield which
means McCoy could find himself competing with two others
for touches throughout the season. |
| 21 |
C.J. Spiller, BUF (23) |
R |
* |
* |
* |
1 |
| Spiller
was the first back taken in this year’s draft, but he
landed in a less than ideal situation. The Buffalo Bills
have been considered one of the lesser franchises in
the league as of late, have problems along the offensive
line, and have rushers already in place (Fred Jackson
and Marshawn Lynch) which could diminish the amount
of playing time Spiller gets as a rookie. Ultimately
though, Fred Jackson isn’t a long term answer at the
position (he’s 29) and Marshawn Lynch appears to be
on the outs despite the fact the Bills used the 12th
overall pick on him in 2007. Spiller may not have it
easy, but he’ll get an opportunity to be Buffalo’s primary
back soon enough. |
| 22 |
Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG (24) |
3 |
28 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Bradshaw
has done nothing but impress with the opportunities
he has had in the NFL. Last year was no exception as
he set career highs for himself across the board despite
dealing with injuries to both of his feet and ankles
throughout much of the season. He’s had offseason surgery
to correct the issues and given the success he had last
year one has to believe he’ll continue pushing Brandon
Jacobs for the role of most productive back on the Giants.
At just 24 years of age, Bradshaw has more life left
in his career than the 28-year old Jacobs, giving him
better value amongst the two. Jacobs’ is also somewhat
injury prone, which could lead to Bradshaw getting increased
opportunity to start at some point during the next few
seasons. |
| 23 |
Joseph Addai, IND (27) |
4 |
10 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
| Following
the Colts first round selection of Donald Brown last
year, along with Addai’s hugely disappointing 2008 campaign,
many figured he would quickly be worked out of the picture
in the Colts offense. Addai surprised most in 2009 however
as he totaled 1164 yards and 13 touchdowns while setting
a career high with 51 receptions. He still only managed
3.8 yards per carry however and if it weren’t for his
touchdown total being so high would have again been
viewed as a disappointment. Nonetheless, he’s shown
himself to still be useful, and despite the fact Donald
Brown will push him for playing time this season and
in the years ahead, he’s shown he can still prove to
be a worthwhile #2 fantasy back with upside when he’s
scoring touchdowns. |
| 24 |
Chris Wells, ARI (22) |
1 |
31 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| After
a mediocre start through the first half of his rookie
season Wells began to excel down the stretch. He finished
the year with 793 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns while
averaging 4.5 yards per carry. With the Cardinals losing
both quarterback Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin during
the offseason Arizona is expected to rely on the ground
game a bit more than they had in recent years. This
should lead to a fairly significant increase in production
for Wells. Tim Hightower will continue to get work as
well, but may see his carries decrease while remaining
a prominent figure as a receiver out of the backfield. |
| 25 |
Marion Barber, DAL (27) |
5 |
21 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
| Barber
has served as the Cowboys starting running back the
last two years, but in some ways those two seasons have
been his most disappointing. When he worked in tandem
with Julius Jones during the ’06 and ’07 campaigns Barber
averaged 4.8 yards per carry and totaled 24 touchdowns.
In the two years since, his yards per carry have dropped
to 4.0 and his rushing touchdown total stands at 14.
Given his physical rushing style, some are starting
to wonder if he’s better off being used in a slightly
more limited role as he was with Julius Jones during
the ’06 and ’07 outings with Felix Jones working as
the starter. |
| 26 |
Cedric Benson, CIN (27) |
5 |
15 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Benson’s
revived his career since joining the Cincinnati Bengals
partway into the 2008 season, but a recent run-in with
the law has his character called into question yet again,
and fantasy owners wondering how it may impact him in
2010. If Roger Goodell suspends him, Bernard Scott and
Brian Leonard will be called upon to carry the load
at the start of the season. Scott, a rookie last year
who performed well at times while Benson was out due
to injury, would then be afforded the opportunity to
establish himself as the starter in Cincinnati. |
| 27 |
Donald
Brown, IND (23) |
1 |
UR |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Brown’s
contributions as a rookie were disappointing after he
was selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2009
draft. He carried the ball just 79 times for 281 yards
and never made a serious threat to overtake Joseph Addai
as the starter in Indianapolis. A shoulder injury which
forced him to the sidelines for five games was partially
to blame however. A healthy return in 2010 should lead
to him making a more meaningful contribution during
his sophomore campaign while also putting him back in
position to claim the starting role sometime within
the next 2-3 years. |
| 28 |
Brandon
Jacobs, NYG (28) |
5 |
30 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| Jacobs
was a huge disappointment last year after rushing for
over 1000 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns in 2008 while
averaging 5.0 yards per carry. It was his second straight
season accomplishing those feats (touchdown production
aside) and owners felt there was good reason to expect
more of the same in 2009. Instead, Jacobs rushed for
only 835 yards at an average of 3.7 yards per carry
while scoring 6 times. His lack of production led to
Ahmad Bradshaw seeing his first significant amount of
playing time during the regular season and he made sure
to capitalize on the opportunity. It now looks as though
Bradshaw’s gain will be Jacob’s loss. Both
running backs will get their fair share of carries,
but Jacob’s best days in the NFL may already be
behind him. |
| 29 |
Montario Hardesty, CLE (23) |
R |
* |
* |
* |
1 |
| Hardesty
was taken late in the second round of this year’s NFL
draft and is already being touted as the starter in
Cleveland. While he’ll have to earn that title throughout
training camp and the preseason, there’s no doubt he
holds more long term value than Cleveland’s lead back
of a year ago, Jerome Harrison. If he’s truly deserving
of the praise he’s already been receiving amongst the
Browns hierarchy he should be a worthwhile number two
back in fantasy leagues within another year or two. |
| 30 |
Michael Bush, OAK (26) |
3 |
43 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| With Justin
Fargas out of the picture the Oakland backfield is now
a two man competition between Michael Bush and Darren
McFadden. Bush has shown himself to be the better of
the two during the last two years, but McFadden’s
status as the fourth overall pick in 2008 has earned
him more slack than a lower drafted player would be
getting. If Oakland’s coaches make the wise football
decision, Bush will be their lead back in the upcoming
year with McFadden being used more as the change-of-pace
option on Sunday’s. |
| 31 |
Justin Forsett, SEA (24) |
2 |
33 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Once LenDale
White was released in Seattle it made the chances of
Justin Forsett handling the starting role for the Seahawks
all the more realistic. Forsett will compete for playing
time with Julius Jones and Leon Washington as the three
battle it out in the preseason, but he should be considered
the slight favorite at the moment given his production
of a year ago (619 yards rushing, 5.4 yards per carry,
41 receptions, 350 yards receiving, and 5 total touchdowns).
Julius Jones hasn’t been all that impressive at any
point over the last three years and Leon Washington
will be attempting a return to action following a compound
fracture of the tibia and fibula in his right leg last
October which could set him behind the other two in
the competition to be named the starter. |
| 32 |
Reggie
Bush, NO (25) |
4 |
36 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Now a
full four seasons into his NFL career it’s safe
to say Reggie Bush will never meet the expectations
placed upon him when he entered the league as the second
overall pick in the 2006 draft. He’s a solid receiver
out of the backfield (although his reception totals
have decreased every year he’s been in the league),
a dangerous return man, and a disappointment carrying
the football. His best value comes in the form of PPR
leagues. And despite the disappointment that has followed
Bush throughout his career, it’s worth noting
that he contributes 6-8 touchdowns per season on a regular
basis. |
| 33 |
Laurence Maroney, NE (25) |
4 |
29 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Maroney’s
been considered a disappointment for much of his career
given his status as a first round pick in 2006, but
he still remains the most promising option amongst New
England running backs. At just 25 he still has quite
a few years remaining in him and could prove to be a
late bloomer, but as things stand now you can usually
rely on him for anywhere from 800-1000 total yards of
offense along with scoring 6-9 touchdowns per year. |
| 34 |
Clinton Portis, WAS (29) |
8 |
UR |
6 |
6 |
1 |
| It’s
hard to admit it, but Clinton Portis’ best days
are officially behind him now. He’ll be 29 years
old at the start of the season and likely share the
workload with Larry Johnson or Willie Parker –
if not both – throughout the upcoming year. How
much he’ll have left in the tank beyond 2010 is
hard to say as most running backs, even the elite ones,
have shown their skills rapidly diminish once they reach
the dreaded age of 30 – especially backs that
have handled a heavy workload throughout their career
like Portis has. |
| 35 |
Kevin
Smith, DET (23) |
2 |
26 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Smith
had a fairly strong showing as a rookie in 2008 before
regressing in 2009 as his season came to a premature
end when he tore the ACL in his left knee with only
three games remaining. While Smith continues to rehab
the knee, and appears as though he may be able to test
it out in the preseason, the selection of Jahvid Best
in the first round of this year’s draft (along
with the injury) have put big dent in his value. Owners
will have to monitor his progress as he returns from
the injury, but it may not be until 2011 until Smith
is truly back at 100%. By that time however, Best may
have himself established as the Lions primary ball carrier. |
| 36 |
Ben Tate, HOU (22) |
R |
* |
* |
* |
0 |
| A second
round pick in this year’s draft, Tate will have to battle
Arian Foster and Steve Slaton for playing time as a
rookie, but long term he appears to hold the most promise
amongst the trio. Slaton had an outstanding rookie campaign,
but struggled mightily last season before a serious
neck injury forced him to the sidelines down the stretch.
Foster meanwhile carried the ball just 54 times as a
rookie last year, but finished strong as he ran for
216 yards and 3 touchdowns during the last two games
of the regular season. He’ll enter camp as the Texans
starter, but all three backs could be used in RBBC approach
this year until one of the three cements themselves
as the clear cut starter. |
| 37 |
Darren McFadden, OAK (23) |
2 |
UR |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| McFadden
hasn’t done much to live up to his billing as
the 4th overall pick in the 2008 draft and will be in
a stiff competition with Michael Bush this preseason
to be named the starter in the Oakland backfield. If
the Raiders decide to go with the better back rather
than make their decision based on who was drafted higher
than Michael Bush is likely to be named the starter.
McFadden’s value may increase in the future if
he ever busts out, but short term he may find himself
stuck as a third down or change-of-pace running back
on a bad team. |
| 38 |
Tim
Hightower, ARI (24) |
2 |
22 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Hightower’s
been a productive all-around back during his first two
NFL seasons, but will ultimately be pushed by 2009 1st
round pick Beanie Wells for the starting role and playing
time in general. Hightower figures to hold a firm grip
on his duties as the primary back in passing situations
given his 96 receptions over the last 2 years, but will
likely begin to see a decline in his number of carries
in the years ahead. The loss of Kurt Warner and Anquan
Boldin this offseason may cut into his reception totals
as well should Arizona begin to rely a bit more heavily
on their ground game. |
| 39 |
Fred
Jackson, BUF (29) |
3 |
17 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Fred Jackson
had a pretty good season for himself last year and is
the projected starter for the Bills heading into their
2010 campaign, but at 29 years of age he isn’t
a long term solution at the position. First round pick
C.J. Spiller will eventually challenge Jackson for the
starting role in Buffalo and at that point Jackson will
likely become back-up running back in the league. He
may not have a lot of wear and tear on his body, but
it’s rare to find a starter at running back in
the NFL older than 30. |
| 40 |
Ronnie Brown, MIA (28) |
5 |
35 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| Injuries
have plagued Ronnie Brown throughout his career and
last season was no exception. He was limited to just
9 games in 2009 due to a Lisfranc fracture in the midsection
of his right foot and considering his current contract
is up after the 2010 season it’s possible he won’t
even remain with the Dolphins in 2011 should struggle
to return at 100% from the injury. Brown is no longer
the young and promising back he was once viewed as poised
to have a breakout season either. He’ll be 29
by the end of the year entering the tail end of his
career. |
| 41 |
Arian
Foster, HOU (24) |
1 |
UR |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Foster
was a rookie free agent signing by the Texans last year
assigned to the practice squad for most of the season
before injuries led to him being activated to the 53-man
roster. He handled a meaningful number of carries in
just three games last season, but made an impression
with the limited amount of opportunity he had as he
rushed for 257 yards on 54 carries while scoring 3 times.
He’ll enter camp in 2010 as the Texans starter,
but 2nd round pick Ben Tate is sure to push him for
playing time as will Steve Slaton should he make a full
recovery from the neck injury he suffered in 2009. |
| 42 |
Toby Gerhart, MIN (23) |
R |
* |
* |
* |
0 |
| Gerhart
was the 19th selection in the 2nd round of this year’s
draft and will be called upon to replace the production
of Chester Taylor who signed with the Chicago Bears
during the offseason. While the Stanford alumnus could
prove capable of producing 500-700 total yards of offense
in this role with a handful of touchdowns, it’s
likely that will be his ceiling during the early years
of his career as he will be stuck behind Adrian Peterson
on the Minnesota depth chart. |
| 43 |
Jerome
Harrison, CLE (27) |
4 |
24 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Harrison
played well last season - especially during the final
three games of the year - as he compiled 862 yards and
5 touchdowns on the ground while adding another 220
yards and 2 touchdowns on 34 receptions. Nonetheless
there is already talk of second round pick Montario
Hardesty supplanting him as the starter in Cleveland
which would reduce Harrison to nothing more than a supporting
role in the backfield. If Hardesty proves to be a disappointment
as a rookie Harrison could be a useful number two running
back in 2010, but long term his value is diminished
due to Hardesty’s presence. |
| 44 |
Bernard
Scott, CIN (26) |
1 |
UR |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Scott
was a sixth round pick last year who showed some promise
during limited playing time when he was called upon
to fill-in for the injured Cedric Benson. If Benson’s
off-field actions (he was involved in a bar fight on
May 30th) lead to any type of suspension being slapped
on him at the start of the season by commissioner Roger
Goodell, Scott will get another opportunity to showcase
himself and earn more playing time, and possibly even
the starting role, throughout the year. It may be a
long shot, but it is a possibility at the moment. |
| 45 |
Cadillac Williams, TB (28) |
5 |
27 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Williams’
career has had some pretty significant speed bumps in
it – tore tendons in both his right and left knees
– but he’s managed to overcome them to a
point where they didn’t completely destroy his
lifework. The fact he’s still in the NFL, let
alone performing as a starter, is pretty amazing. It
makes one wonder what he could’ve accomplished
had injuries not slowed him down. He’s not one
of the elite backs, but he still provides value as a
low end #2 RB in fantasy leagues or a solid #3 option.
|
| 46 |
Marshawn
Lynch, BUF (24) |
3 |
48 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| It’s
hard to believe how quickly Lynch’s fantasy value
has dropped, but right now it’s at an all-time
low. At 24 years of age he still has time to rejuvenate
his career, but as things currently stand he’s
the third string running back in Buffalo behind veteran
Fred Jackson and rookie C.J. Spiller. His owners can
only hope that he gets a second chance somewhere down
the line. |
| 47 |
Julius
Jones, SEA (29) |
6 |
39 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Julius
Jones’ career has been very mundane over the last
few years, which makes it hard to believe he’s
still been a starter in the league as recently as a
year ago. Heading into 2010 he’ll have to battle
Justin Forsett for the starting role and Leon Washington
for playing time if he’s reduced to a back-up
role. His value certainly isn’t on the rise, but
if he can fend off Forsett this preseason he’ll
still be worth owning as depth in dynasty leagues. |
| 48 |
Steve
Slaton, HOU (24) |
2 |
32 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Slaton
had a miserable sophomore campaign in the NFL as he
averaged just 3.3 yards per run for 437 yards on 131
carries. On top of that it seemed he was fumbling the
ball every other time he touched it. As if that weren’t
enough he suffered a serious neck injury that ended
his season 11 games into it and had cervical neck fusion
surgery in the offseason to deal with the issue. Taking
everything into account, including the Texans selection
of running back Ben Tate in the second round of this
year’s draft, Slaton will have to deliver on the
field before his value rises again. At this point in
time it appears he’ll work in 2010 as the Texans
third down running back. |
| 49 |
LaDainian
Tomlinson, NYJ (31) |
9 |
19 |
8 |
9 |
1 |
| Tomlinson’s
best days are clearly behind him now. The Chargers released
the future Hall of Famer in the offseason and he then
signed with the Jets. While he landed in a pretty good
situation he’s still going to serve as a back-up
to Shonn Greene. He should rack up a handful of touchdowns
while rushing for anywhere from 500-700 yards this year,
but at the age of 31 it’s hard to say how much
he has left in the tank beyond this season. |
| 50 |
Thomas
Jones, KC (32) |
10 |
6 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
| Jones
actually set career highs for himself last season in
carries (332), rushing yards (1402), and touchdowns
(14), but it wasn’t enough to convince the Jets
decide to retain him. He signed with Kansas City in
the offseason, and makes for a good insurance policy
should JamaaL Charles’ breakout performance in
2009 prove to be a fluke, but Jones isn’t a young
pup. He’ll be 32 years old at the start of the
upcoming season and as all dynasty owners know age plays
a big part in dictating a running backs value. Even
if Jones took over the starting role in Kansas City
at some point this year it’s hard to envision
he’d have much value beyond 2010. |
